Sock

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a sock, especially for use during sports activities. Said sock comprises cushions in the treading area ( 1 ). The cushions ( 2, 3, 4 ) are provided in the area of the outer and inner ball, in the heel area, and in the area of the outer instep. Intermediate spaces ( 6 ) are embodied between the cushions ( 2, 3, 4 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a sock that is to be used particularly duringsports activities and that is outfitted with padding in the treadingarea.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Human feet are generally accommodated in firm shoes, especially duringsports activities. They are also frequently in socks. The many and rapidmotions occurring during sports activities mean that the foot issubjected to great loads, which can bring about fatigue more rapidly. Ifthere is an unequal distribution of the load in the treading area inparticular, then this can lead to increased stress in the ligamentssituated around the ankle joint. This can put exceptional strain on oreven damage the ligaments, for example, if the individual's stride isincorrect or if he should hit the ground wrong. Any destabilizing of theankle joint by wearing out the ligaments can also negatively impinge onthe knee and the area around it. From this it is clear that theanatomical distribution of the load of the treading area of the foot isof the utmost importance to the stability of the entire locomotorsystem, and all the more so for sports activities.

The plane of the treading area of the foot between the heel and theouter and inner balls of the foot forms a three-point support system.This three-point support system makes it possible to balance the body'sentire weight on a single leg. When walking, the foot's naturallongitudinal and transverse vault works like a suspension. The force ofthe load is absorbed, for the most part, by the three-point supportsystem. Approximately 40% of the load is absorbed by the outer and innerballs of the foot, and 33% by the heel. Approximately 15% of the loadinvolves the outer instep of the foot, while the remaining load isabsorbed by the toes (inner zone of the toes about 5%, outside zoneabout 7%).

To decrease the dynamic load of the foot and the premature fatigueassociated with it, some form of dampening has been commonly used(compare DE 87 01 834 U1), for example, by padding the toe, sole andheel areas of the stock with something soft. The treading area of thesole that lies between the heel and the toes can also be outfitted withappropriate contours (compare EP 0 849 998 B1). These well known typesof sock do not, however, take into account the specific load profile ofthe treading area of the foot.

This is what the invention remedies. The invention addresses the problemof creating a sock, especially for sports activities, that will be verycomfortable to wear, while simultaneously taking into account thespecific load profile of the treading area of the foot. The inventionsolves this problem by placing padding in the areas of the outer andinner balls, in the area of the heel as well as in the outer instep ofthe foot and, also, by means of intermediate spaces between the padding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention creates a sock that is especially suited for sportsactivities and that takes into account the specific load profile of thefoot. The separate pads in the various load areas mean that the foot iseffectively supported and simultaneously protected against strain.Additionally, the suspension effect of the longitudinal and transversevaults is amplified during walking, which, in turn, helps remove anyfurther load from the ankle joint and the ligaments. The sectionalpadding reduces the weight of the sock, as compared with socks that arecompletely padded throughout the entire treading area. This represents asignificant advantage, for example, in such extreme types of sportsactivities as triathlons or marathons. The intermediate spaces betweenthe padding also increase air circulation.

As a further development of the invention, the weave of the fabric ofthe padding for the inner and outer balls of the foot is different. Thismakes a precise adaptation of this area of padding to the loaddistribution between the outer and inner balls of the foot possible,which, in turn, further improves the protective and support functions.

The invention is outfitted with sickle-shaped padding in the area of thetoes. This sustains the absorption of the not inconsiderable share ofthe load by the toes.

The toe padding is advantageously executed in the form of individualpads, the fabric of which preferably has a different weave structure.This takes into consideration the heterogeneous load distribution in thearea of the toes, and makes a specific absorption of the load in thisarea possible.

Another development of the invention is that the sock is equipped withat least one lateral climate conduit that leads into at least one of theintermediate spaces created by the separate pads. This benefits thecontinuous removal of perspiration from the bottom of the foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

There is shown in the attached drawing a presently preferred embodimentof the present invention, wherein like numerals I the various viewspertainto like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the sock;

FIG. 2 is a view of the sock from below; and

FIG. 3 is a view of the sock from below, but outfitted differently.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The illustrated example (FIG. 1) shows a sock with a shaft A and a footsection B. In the treading area 1 of the foot, the sock is padded insections 2, 3, 4 and 5. Pads 2, 3, 4 and 5 are not connected to eachother, which emphasizes the padding in the intermediate spaces 6. Pads2, 3, 4 and 5 have an anatomical shape, which means that they areoptimally adapted to the load profile of the foot.

There is, in the area of the heel, a circular heel pad 2 that resemblesthe area of the point of the tread. There is an oval pad 3 in the outerinstep the long side of which borders the outer region, on one side, andthe longitudinal and transverse vaults of the foot on the other. A football pad 4 is situated on the ball of the foot. Pad 4 also has aprimarily oval shape and stretches from the outer to the inner ball ofthe foot. Foot section 1 in the area of the toes is outfitted with asickle-shaped toe pad 5. The shape of the pad is determined by thevarying lengths as well as the arrangement of the toes.

In the illustrated example as seen in FIG. 3, the sock is outfitted witha pad 4 for the ball of the foot that is made up of two sections and issituated in the treading area of the foot 1. Pad 41 that points towardsthe interior of the foot has a higher density than the bordering partialpad 42. In contrast to the illustrated example as per FIG. 1, thesickle-shaped toe pad 5 is made up of five individual pads 51 through55, with a pad allocated to each toe. The fabric structure of pads 51through 55 is different. The density of pads 51 through 55 decreases inthe illustrated example. Pad 51 is the densest and pad 55 the leastdense.

Pads 2 through 5 can have different thicknesses and densities, and canbe made from only one material or from unlike materials. The varyingthicknesses of pads 2 through 5 can be achieved by using thicker yarnsor more threads. It is also possible to manufacture pads 2 through 5 invarying degrees of firmness. For example, those pads intended to absorbless load, such as is the case with toe pad 5, can be made softer thanthose pads that will be subject to higher loads, as is the case with thepad for the ball of the foot 4. As in the illustrated example of FIG. 3,pads 41 and 42 as well as pads 51 through 55 can, of course, havediverse degrees of firmness as well depending upon the load that theymust absorb.

The padding supports the fat pads that are naturally on the foot. A“barefoot climate” is achieved for the foot because the load profile ofthe foot has been taken into account in the shaping and positioning ofthe comfort pads. This “barefoot climate” is additionally caused by theair circulation that is produced by the intermediate spaces 6 betweenpads 2 through 5. The climate conduit 7 that runs along the side of thesock and that leads into the intermediate spaces 6 also makes itpossible to improve the elimination of moisture from the bottom of thefoot.

Though socks have been the topic of description and discussion, theinvention is not limited to these alone, but also includes stockings,tights and similar articles of clothing to which the invention alsoapplies.

1. A sock, in particular for the use with sports activities, that ispadded in the treading area and comprises padding (2, 3, 4) in the innerand outer areas of the balls of the foot, in the area of the heel, aswell as in the outer instep, and that has intermediate spaces (6)between pads (2, 3, 4).
 2. A sock as in claim 1, wherein there is a padon the ball of the foot (4) in the area of the inner and outer ball, thefabric of which is dissimilar in structure.
 3. A sock as in claim 2,wherein there the pad (4) on the ball of the foot is made up of multiplesections.
 4. A sock as in claim 1, wherein there is a sickle-shaped toepad (5) arranged in the area of the toes.
 5. A sock as in claim 2,wherein there is a sickle-shaped toe pad (5) arranged in the area of thetoes.
 6. A sock as in claim 3, wherein there is a sickle-shaped toe pad(5) arranged in the area of the toes
 7. A sock as in claim 4, whereinthe toe pads (5) that are made up of multiple individual pads (51through 55).
 8. A sock as in claim 7, wherein the fabric of theindividual pads (51-55) is dissimilar in structure.
 9. A sock as inclaim 1, wherein the pads (2, 3, 4) have varying degrees of firmness.10. A sock as in claim 4, wherein the pads (2, 3, 4, 5) have varyingdegrees of firmness.
 11. A sock as in claim 5, wherein the pads (2, 3,4, 5) have varying degrees of firmness.
 12. A sock as in claim 1,wherein at least one side climate conduit (7) is provided that leadsinto at least one of the separate pads (2 through 4) created by theintermediate spaces (6) on the treading area (1).
 13. A sock as in claim4, wherein at least one side climate conduit (7) is provided that leadsinto at least one of the separate pads (2 through 5) created by theintermediate spaces (6) on the treading area (1).
 14. A sock as in claim5, wherein at least one side climate conduit (7) is provided that leadsinto at least one of the separate pads (2 through 5) created by theintermediate spaces (6) on the treading area (1).
 15. A sock as in claim10, wherein at least one side climate conduit (7) is provided that leadsinto at least one of the separate pads (2 through 5) created by theintermediate spaces (6) on the treading area (1).